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Nature Reserves Jordan RSCN
The Royal Society for the Conservation of
Nature
The RSCN is an independent voluntary
organization devoted to the conservation of
Jordan's natural resources.
In its short but rich history, RSCN has
established seven protected areas covering
over 1200 square kilometers where you find
wild plants, animals and other natural
resources and they include some of the
finest natural landscapes in the country.
To date, RSCN has received several global
awards for its success in alleviating
poverty and creating job opportunities for
local communities, in combination with
integrating nature conservation.
DANA
Established in 1989, Dana Biosphere Reserve
is Jordan’s largest nature reserve, covering
some 320 km2, it is the most diverse nature
reserve in terms of habitats, species and
vegetation types.
More than 800 plant species can be found
here, three of which have only ever been
recorded in Dana and nowhere else in the
world.
Their Latin names include the word ‘Dana’ in
them.The Reserve has a wide variety of
wildlife, including many rare species of
plants and animals. It is home to several
globally threatened species of birds and
mammals.
Feynan Eco-lodge: deep in Wadi Araba’s
remote landscape this unique candle-lit
Eco-lodge provides 26 uniquely designed
rooms for tourists wishing to explore an
undiscovered and archeologically rich area
of Jordan.
The lodges are open from the 1st of
September until 30th of June.
Dana
Guesthouse
on the edge of Wadi Dana, this beautifully
styled building offers breathtaking views of
the reserve, comfortable rooms, traditional
Arabic food, and friendly service.
It contains nine bedrooms, most with private
terraces, as well as facilities for courses
and conferences.
The guesthouse is open all year round.
Rummana
Campsite
Situated on a small plateau, overlooking the
dramatic escarpment of the Jordan Rift
Valley, the campsite has 20 large tents with
a capacity of 60 persons, two Bedouin tents,
an outdoor dining room area, a kitchen and
showers/toilets.
Each tent comes fully equipped with
mattresses, pillows, and blankets.
Drinking water is available and gas cookers
may be rented. Barbeque and special food can
be prepared upon prior reservation.
The campsite is open from 1st March to 31st
October.
Trails
from Rummana Campsite
Rummana
Trail
Round Trip: 2.5 km / Time:
2 hours / Grade: Medium-Hard
Campsite Trail: Round Trip:
2 km / Time: 1 hour / Grade: Easy / Guided
or self-guided / Open 15/3 to 1/11
Sunset Tower Tour: Round Trip:
2 km / Time: ½ hour .This tour is available
upon request.
Dana Village Trail:
Distance (one way): 5 km / Time: 4 hours /
Grade: Hard / Guided only
Cave Trail: Round Trip: 1
km / Time 1.5 hours / Grade: Medium /
Self-guided / Open 15/3 to 1/11
Trails
from Feynan Eco-Lodge
Feynan Trail: One way: 14
km / Time: 5 – 6 hours / Grade: Medium /
Guided only
Feynan
Copper Mine Trail
Round
trip: 3 km. / Time: 3-4 hours /Grade: easy /
Guided / from 1/9 to 30/6
Wadi Ghwair Trail: One way:
8 km, / Time: 3-4 hours / Grade: easy /
guided / from 1/9 to 30/6
Sunset Trail: Enjoy the
sunset from the nearby mountain while the
local Bedouin guide serves tea and cookies.
Trials
from Dana Guest House
Village Tour: Round Trip: 2
km / Time: 2 hours / Grade: easy /
Self-guided or guided
White Dome Trail: One way:
8 km / Time: 4 hours / Grade: moderate /
Guided / from 1/3 to 31/10
Wadi Dana Trail: Distance:
14 km / Time: 5-7hrs / Guided or self guided
/ Available all year
Juniper Valley Trail: Round
Trip: 3.5 km / Time: 2 ½ hours / Grade:
moderate / guided
Nawatef Trail: Round Trip:
2 km / Time: 2 hours / Grade: easy –
moderate / Guided / Available all year
Feathers Canyon Trail:
Round trip: 3 km / Time: 3-4 hrs / Grade:
hard / guided / all year / no fear of
heights!
Wadi Dathneh Trail: One
way: 16 km / Time: 6-8 hrs / Grade:
moderate–hard / No fear of heights / Guided
/ all year.
Dana - Shobak – Petra: One
way: 45 km / Time: 3-5 days / Grade: hard /
No fear of heights / Guided
Sunset Tour: Round trip: 1
km / Time: ½ hour
MUJIB
Established in 1987, Mujib Nature Reserve
covers an area of 212 km2.
Bordering the Dead Sea at 416 meters below
sea level, it surrounds Wadi Mujib, a canyon
that cuts through the highlands and drains
into the Dead Sea.
Seasonal and permanent streams support
luxurious aquatic plants in the river-beds
and a remarkable diversity of wildlife.
It is also one of the major sources that
compensate the high evaporation rate of the
Dead Sea.
Surveys indicate that the reserve contains
over 300 species of plants, 10 species of
carnivores, and numerous species of resident
and migratory birds.
RSCN did a ten year re-introduction program
for the Ibex in the reserve.
One of the carnivores inhabiting Mujib is
the Caracal.
And at least nine species of birds of prey
are known to breed in the reserve,
significantly Bonelli’s eagle, Short-toad
Eagle, Long-legged Buzzard, and Barbary
Falcon.
Mujib
Chalets:
Situated close to the Dead Sea, 15 new
chalets provide a cool retreat for visitors,
with stunning sea-views; an ideal place from
which to explore the Mujib Nature Reserve or
to enjoy the medicinal properties of the
Dead Sea. Open all year round.
Dry
Trails
Ibex Trail: Time: 3-4 hours
/ Grade Moderate / Guided only / Open all
year
Mujib Trail: One Way /
Distance: 15km / Time: 6-7 hrs / Grade: hard
/ Guided only / Open all year
Canyoning
The trails listed below are all water
trails.
You need to have the ability to swim and
have no fear of water and heights.
Hikers should expect to climb rocks against
the water flow and jump into pools of water.
Min. age for water trails is 18.
Siq Trail: Round trip /
Time: 2 hrs / Grade easy /Guided or unguided
/ Open 1st April until 31st of October
Malaqi Trail: Time: 6 – 8 hrs
/Guided only / No fear of heights / Open 1st
April until 31st of October.
Please
note
All guided tours start at 8:00 AM and
guiding services in Mujib are not provided
in the month of Ramadan
Permitted group size is: 5 - 25 persons -
All trails are guided, except for the Siq
Trail
Water trails open from the 1st of April
until the 31st of October - Dry trails are
open all year round
AJLOUN
Established in 1987, Ajloun Forest Reserve
covers an area of 13 km2.
It consists of Mediterranean-like hill
country, ranging from 600 - 1100 m above sea
level, with a series of valleys.
It is dominated by open woodlands that
account for a significant part of Jordan’s
forested area, which does not exceed 1% of
the country’s entire land area.
These woodlands support a wide range of
plant and animal biodiversity, including
herds of wild boar, the Stone Marten, the
golden Jackal, the Red Fox, Striped Hyena,
Persian Squirrel, Indian Crested Porcupine,
and wolf.
A wide variety of wild flowers thrive in
Ajloun forest, including the Black Iris,
several orchids and wild tulips.
RSCN initiated a captive breeding program
aiming to reintroduce the locally extinct
Roe Deer.
Ajloun Cabins & Bungalows:
occupies a large grassy clearing, enclosed
by oak, pistachio and strawberry trees and
offers beautiful views of the reserve. There
are 5 newly built cabins with private
facilities and small terraces open all year
round and 10 four- person tented lodges also
with terrace and nearby showers and toilets.
These bungalows are open mid-March to end of
October.
Trails
Scenic Viewpoint Trail:
Guided or self-guided / open 1st April until
31st October
Rockrose Trail: Distance
8km / Time: 3-4 hrs / Guided only / Open 1st
April until 31st October
Village Orchards Tour:
Distance: 12km/ Time: 6 hrs / Guided only /
Open 1st April until 31st October
Soap Maker's Trail:
Distance: 7km / Time: 2-4 hours /
Self-guided and guided / open all the year
weather-permitting.
The Prophet's Trail:
Distance: 8.5km / Time: 4 hours / Guided
only
Mar Elyass to Ajloun Castle:
One way and return by bus / Distance: 10 km
/ Time 5-6 hours / Grade: hard / Guided
Please
note
All
guided tours start at 8:00 AM, except the
Rockrose Trail & Soap Maker’s Trail can
start at 12:00 AM.
AZRAQ
In 1978, RSCN established Azraq Wetland
Reserve to conserve this unique oasis in the
desert.
It is distinguished by lush marshland and
natural water collections, giving Azraq its
name, which is the Arabic word for ‘blue’.
A variety of birds flock to the reserve each
year, stopping for a short rest along their
migration routes, staying for the winter, or
breeding within the wetland. Before water
pumping dramatically increased in the 1980s,
the oasis attracted up to a million
migrating birds at one time.
By 1993, the extraction of water was so
great that no surface water remained and the
oasis’s ecological value was virtually
destroyed.
With international support, RSCN began a
rescue effort in 1994 and managed to restore
a significant portion of the wetland and
many birds for which Azraq was once renowned
for are coming back, and special boardwalks
and bird hides have been constructed to
enable visitors to observe and enjoy them.
The wetland is a location of rich
biodiversity, providing a natural habitat
for numerous aquatic and terrestrial
species, including the Azraq Killifish; a
critically endangered species (identified by
the World Conservation Union) Efforts have
been very effective in this area, greatly
increasing the numbers of killifish in their
natural habitat.
Azraq Lodge: This amazing
lodge, renovated from a 1940’s British
military field hospital, is a short distance
away from the Azraq and Shaumari reserves.
There are 16 fully equipped 1940's style
rooms overlooking the vast mud and sand
flats of the Azraq Basin. Kitchen and
restaurant are under the management of a
local family, providing a variety of Chechen
food and delights. The Azraq Lodge is open
all year.
Marsh Trail: Round Trip: 1.5km / Time: 30
minutes / Grade: easy / Guided or self
guided
SHAUMARI
In 1975, RSCN began fencing areas within
Shaumari in preparation for the first
wildlife protection reserve in Jordan,
covering an area of 22 km2. So far, more
than 193 species of flora have been recorded
and six species of carnivores have been
found to inhabit the area, including the Red
Fox, Jackal, Wolf, Striped Hyena, Caracal,
and Wild Cat, while bird sightings in the
reserve include Imperial Eagle, Pallid
Harrier, and Egyptian Vulture.
Shaumari Wildlife Reserve was initially
created as a breeding center for globally
threatened and locally extinct wildlife and
specifically the Arabian Oryx but it is now
home to some of the rarest species of
animals in the Middle East. The Oryx can
often be seen roaming freely in the desert
grassland, and Ostriches, Gazelles, and
Onagers can be observed in their enclosures.
(The Reserve will be closed until the end of
2008 for renovation purposes)
DIBEEN
In 2004, RSCN established its latest nature
reserve in Dibeen Forest northern Jordan; it
extends over 8.5 km2 of mountainous terrain,
covering an area of pristine pine-oak
habitat. The Aleppo pines in the Reserve are
some of the oldest and largest in the
Kingdom and Dibeen is the driest part of the
world in which these pines are known to grow
naturally, with an average rainfall of
around 400mm per year. In the lower
elevations, Aleppo pine is dominant, in the
middle elevations, a pine-oak association is
dominant and in the upper elevations, the
oak is the dominant species. Other trees
present in the forest include Strawberry
tree, pistachio and wild olive; while the
ground flora is exceptionally rich and
includes several orchid species and other
forest related plant species.
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